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DCSO COVID-19 Update

Post Date:04/30/2020 10:00 AM

Durham, NC- (April 29, 2020) - On April 22, 2020, Durham County Sheriff Clarence F. Birkhead announced that employees at the Durham County Detention Center had tested positive for COVID-19. As they remain in coronavirus protocol, the office reminds the public we continue to proactively address this situation in conjunction with the Durham County Public Health Department. Our office has and will continue to follow guidelines regarding COVID-19 from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

In mid-March of 2020, Sheriff Birkhead announced the following DCSO protocols regarding COVID-19: Information on how the coronavirus is impacting the Durham County Sheriff's Office and Detention Center. DCSO will continue making modifications as new information about the coronavirus becomes available in order to ensure we are able to maintain all Sheriff’s Office operations. DCSO continues its strict protocols and enhanced public safety measures among our staff to protect their health, as well as the health of those housed within the Durham County Detention Center.

At this time, no inmate has tested positive for COVID-19. Our office makes the safety and health of those we are caretakers for and our staff a priority at all times; but especially now.

Over the weekend, Sheriff Birkhead made the following public statement regarding the recent death of 23-year veteran DCSO Senior Detention Officer Alexander Pettiway: “Losing a member of our Sheriff’s Office family is never something you are prepared for. We will come together to support each other and Senior Officer Pettiway’s family as they deal with this great loss. On behalf of the men and women of the Durham County Sheriff’s Office, we offer our deepest condolences to the family of our brother Alexander.”

Officer Pettiway’s immediate family and relatives maintain their request for privacy in their time of grief as they make final service and funeral arrangements.